We will explore topics like the early signs of autism in a child, the latest research, including the CDC’s new prevalence data, and resources available through this website.

This is an exciting opportunity to chat with experts about current issues surrounding autism. We’d love to see you there! Here are the rest of the details, courtesy of The Arc Blog.

Following the chat on Twitter is easy. First, follow @TheArcUS and @AutismNowCenter on Twitter. We’ll be using the hashtag: #TheArcChat – this link will allow you to follow the conversation.

There, you’ll be able to follow the conversation in real-time. Keep in mind, if you want to participate in the chat, you’ll need an account on Twitter. If you haven’t used Twitter before, here’s a great link to learn more about it and the basics of Twitter.

If you need an accessible version of Twitter, we recommend using Easy Chirp. Simply visit its website, and sign in with your Twitter credentials.

If you want to be part of the conversation on Twitter, simply use the hashtag: #TheArcChat when you tweet. You can find out more about hashtags in Twitter’s Help section.

According to the Centers for Disease Control:

“CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities has been tracking ASDs for over a decade through theAutism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. The newest estimates from the ADDM Network are based on data collected in 14 areas of the United States during 2008. These 14 communities comprised over eight percent of the United States population of 8-year-olds in 2008. Information was collected on children who were 8 years old because previous work has shown that, by this age, most children with ASDs have been identified for services.”

Read more about the data on the CDC’s website.

The Autism NOW Center is a federally funded project of The Arc, and many collaborative partners. We’ll always aims to help people searching the web separate fact from fiction when it comes to autism.

We also added the latest webinars to our Webinar Archive. You can view any webinar on-demand for FREE. Also, remember we hold one free webinar every week. Check our full schedule, or visit our Events section for more information.

A screenshot of the new Local Agencies Directory and Map

In 2011, with the help of many partners, we launched the Autism NOW Center – the National Autism Resource and Information Center – to help people searching the web separate fact from fiction when it comes to autism.

Led by The Arc and funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, 2011 was a busy year for the Autism NOW Center.  With five regional summits, dozens of webinars, and the creation of a top-notch informational website with input from partners in the disability field, we went into 2012 with exciting ideas to expand upon that important work.  While www.autismnow.org is becoming a go-to resource for families, individuals with autism, and experts in the field, we’re still working hard on adding new features and content!

We just rolled out two exciting new features on the site recently – a mobile version, allowing users on mobile devices like smart phones and tablets to see an optimized version of the site, and a local agencies directory in the form of a map. This mobile version lets users get to content faster on the go, and creates better accessibility overall for the site. The local agencies directory provides an easy-to-use way to find agencies in your state that can help with services, support and resources for living with autism and other developmental disabilities.

To view the mobile version, simply visit the site (www.autismnow.org) on a smart phone or tablet – like an iPhone or iPad. To view the Local Agencies Directory, visit www.autismnow.org/map. And keep in mind, we plan on adding more agencies to the directory. If you have a suggestion or correction, simply use the form on the page to let us know.

The new features of the site are only the beginning in what will be a busy year for us. Other planned features include commenting on blog articles, a message board, an enhanced community calendar and new video content.

Did you know you can get involved with the Autism NOW Center right now? Learn how at www.autismnow.org/participate.

Also, remember we hold one free webinar every week. Check our full schedule, or visit our Events section for more information.

Also, remember we hold one free webinar every week. Check our full schedule, or visit our Events section for more information.

The month’s new topics include the role of the press in the disability rights movement, the role of an advisor in a self-advocacy organization and autism-friendly companies and employment opportunities. And remember, you can always suggest a topic for a webinar by visiting our submit a resource form and selecting “An idea for a webinar topic.”

This month’s topics include emergency preparedness and tips for first responders. And remember, you can always suggest a topic for a webinar by visiting our submit a resource form and selecting “An idea for a webinar topic.”

This month’s topics include autism and women, siblings and presenting at national conferences (geared toward self-advocates). And remember, you can always give suggest a topic for a webinar by visiting our submit a resource form and selecting “An idea for a webinar topic.”

Head over to our Participate section to find out how to get involved. Two of the newest ways include:

• Help Spread the Word about the Autism NOW Center: Organizations and bloggers can take advantage of this toolkit with basic information and promotional material about the center. The downloads are free.
• Contribute to our Blog: Speaking of bloggers, if you have something good information, resources and/or ideas to share with our audience, you can write a guest post for our blog. Check out these blog guidelines for details.